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Translator Note: Here’s a warning beforehand to avoid confusion

– this chapter was written with POV switch for some reason. The narration swings from first to third person within every one or two chapter intervals. I honestly thought about translating it all in third person, but that felt like lying to the readers, so I left it as it is in the original work.

The DemiG.o.d and the Auto-Memories Doll

On that

day, the sky was overcast since morning, white clouds blending with pitch

darkness. Rain struck the land as the Sun set, thunders rumbling, in a weather

stormy enough to shake even windows protected by iron bars.

“It’s

become cold, hasn’t it?”

Although it

was the beginning of autumn, the temperature had still been warm as of late.

Perhaps due to it abruptly going down, the nun whom I had been reading

scriptures aloud with stood up and started preparing the fireplace that had

been unused since spring.

I dropped

my gaze to the scriptures we were halfway through with, and then scanned the

room. A bed with a canopy. A gold-frame painting of mythological G.o.ds. An antique

mirror stand. A deep shadow was cast over all of them. The atmosphere was somewhat

grim.

“Hey…” As

staying silent was dreadful, I tried calling out to the nun, yet was

interrupted by a booming thunder. The sound was deafening enough to crack the soil.

It sent chills through my entire body from within the silk robes I wore.

The

navy-blue fabrics with golden embroidery of said robes were suitable for the

austerity of a G.o.d’s child, but did not match me. The same went for the circlet

of the Sun being enveloped by the Moon that rested on my head, that room,

everything…

I stood up

from my chair and walked to the nun’s side.

“Everything

is fine, Lady Lux. This region has always been often hit by lightning, so there

are lightning rods installed around the Utopia. Besides, even if it were to

strike us, nothing would happen to you, Lady Lux. Your honorable body will be

safe until the Day of Guidance four days from now.”

At the

words that came with a light smile, I could only laugh bitterly. That was

because I was unable to deem them either good or bad, as they were simply

neutral words of comfort.

“Excuse

me.” the voice of another nun came from outside the room. It was most likely

the one in charge of the administrative management and security of the Utopia.

“Is

anything the matter, Lisbon?”

“This rain

caused the nearby river to flood. Crossing the bridge over to the harbor side

in these circ.u.mstances is unmanageable…”

“We have

stored enough supplies to survive through even the winter. There should be no

issues, right?”

“No, it is

not that… Since the crossing has become impossible, a traveler who was

wandering this land has come seeking shelter in this Utopia. She asked if she could

stay until the storm calmed… There is no way we could treat a lost child with

disdain. It was all right to welcome her into the gates, but… that

traveler…”

Seeing as

the eyes of the reporting nun shone in delight, I concluded that something had

happened. “Is she a ‘demiG.o.d’ like me?” after asking, my heart started racing

from fear mixed with joy and sorrow mixed with antic.i.p.ation, so violently that

it ached.

“We have

not conducted any probation, so I cannot affirm it, but… her figure is the

splitting image of the G.o.ddess of combat, Garnet Spear. She is exactly as

described in the scriptures.”

“Rainy days

are ominous, so isn’t someone that comes by in times like these a mere human

instead of a ‘demiG.o.d’? I believe I should recommend she departs to the lower

world immediately after the tempest settles.”

My voice

might have been stiff. Although I was praised and wors.h.i.+pped as a ‘demiG.o.d’ in

that utopia, I did not have communication skills. However, I thought I had to

do what I could for the sake of that traveler.

The two

nuns looked at one another.

“Either

way, let’s welcome the traveler. She must be freezing in this rain.”

“I-I want

to meet this person as well.”

“We’ll let

you greet her after you arrange yourself. Please, Lady Lux, be at ease.”

With that,

the nuns left me in the room and took their leave in a haste. As the door was

latched, it did not budge even as I pushed it.

“Hey, open

up. Isn’t there anyone here?”

I could not

hear the sounds of people in the corridors. I sighed grievously. As I had

nothing else to do, I took a peek at the window. I did not have a panoramic

view due to the window bars, but I could perfectly see the front gates.

“Ah.” My

eyes reflected the figure of a traveler standing outside without any rain gear.

There was a

fair distance from the room I was in to the ground. I kept observing her warily

while believing that there was no way she would perceive my stare, yet she

promptly moved her neck to look straight at me. It seemed my breathing would

stop. The fact that my gaze had been noticed was frightening, but more than anything,

the reason was that I could tell, even from far away, that the beauty of that

traveler was a gift from G.o.d.

That was

the first meeting between I, Lux Sibyl, and Violet Evergarden.

That

isolated island contained something mysterious. The name of said island

surrounded by sea and separated from other continents was Chevalier. There were

about a hundred islanders in it.

As it was,

the island was blessed with natural resources, and there was no contact with

the outside world except for pa.s.sing s.h.i.+ps. The main characteristics of

Chevalier were the waterfalls and ponds found throughout its territory. And among

them, the most prominent was the great waterfall on the peak of an abysmal mountain

in the center of the island. The maximum drop distance was of about a hundred

meters, and there was no one who could float up if swallowed by the plunge

basin.

Aside from the

great waterfall, there was one more peculiarity in the island of water and

greenery named Chevalier: a bizarre fortress erected by stacking irregular

stones on top of one another. It was said that such spire devoid of uniformity,

which artistic architecture had been created with the intention of not being

labeled as either Oriental or Occidental, had suddenly started being built by a

lunatic. In reality, no one knew whether that was true or not. Until a few decades

before, it was a secretive building, left untouched as it was. One day, after a

group that had purchased a corner of the island suddenly migrated to it at once,

the community already living in that island started calling them “Cult House”, while

the fortress’s inhabitants themselves called it “Utopia”.

Sister

Lisbon, who had received the task of guiding the traveler that had wandered

into the Utopia, was fixatedly staring at the entrance of a s.p.a.cious porch that

served as the Utopia’s front gate. What she was observing was not the state of

the storm outside but the female traveler as she undid her slovenly hair. Its golden

strands were glossy from absorbing rainwater. Her complex braids delated its real

length.

In her hands

covered by black gloves was a heavy-looking trolley bag. Under the Prussian-blue

jacket that she took off was a snow-white ribbon-tie dress. Perhaps due to

being so wet, it stuck to her bodyline perfectly, and even those of the same

s.e.x would have trouble averting their eyes from the sight.

The woman

was a beautiful person with a somber gaze, and her figure, softly wet from the

rain, happened to look as pure and l.u.s.trous as a fairy. However, she was

enveloped in a somewhat outlandish atmosphere. Despite her fragile appearance, a

bottomless, raw strength was present somewhere within her.

“I will be

in your care.” Although the woman’s voice was by no means loud, in such a quiet

place, it resounded more exquisitely than it usually would.

Lisbon led

the woman to a room used whenever there were visitors. She sat on said room’s

sofa by a marble table. Maybe because of the current season, or because building

was made of stones, the air in the room felt cold.

“I am the

administrator of the management of this ‘Utopia’. My name is Lisbon. We of Utopia

welcome you, who were once lost.”

The outer

corner of her eyes full of wrinkles and creases, Lisbon was clad in black robes

along with a white wimple, which was what everyone of that place used as hood. It

was a default nun outfit that often could be found anywhere in the world. Except

the clothing of the Utopia’s nuns had the crest of a serpent being skewed by a

large sword embroidered in the chest area.

“Pleased to

make your acquaintance. My name is Violet Evergarden. I am grateful for this

favor. As soon as crossing the bridge becomes possible, I shall take my leave.”

Although

Violet had not said the word ‘cold’ even once, her skin was clearly blue. Being

considerate, Lisbon put more firewood into the fireplace.

“Thank you

very much. May I dry my bag?”

There were

probably very important things in it for her to prioritize it over her own

clothes. When opening the bag, Violet took out a book wrapped in several cloths

and handkerchiefs. Upon a closer look, it seemed to be a book-shaped accessory

case. There were letters inside it. A sigh leaked from Violet’s lips.

“Are these

important letters?” Lisbon asked, and Violet choppily spoke about her

circ.u.mstances.

She was an Auto-Memories

Doll, and had come to the island on request. The work had already been done. Along

with writing the customer’s letter, she had also accepted to deliver it, and

though all she had to do was meet with the postman to entrust the letter to

him, she had been caught by the storm.

“So you are

from a postal agency. Our Utopia is an ally of people, no matter who they are.

Now, it is all right for you to dry your bag, but should you not warm up your

body as well?”

As a white

towel that had been prepared for her was placed over her head, Violet looked

like a bride with a veil. Once she was given nun clothes as a replacement and finished

changing into them, she was finally soothed into a state of being able to talk

in detail.

Lisbon resumed

the conversation simply, “Since we have become acquainted, let me talk about us

as well. We of Utopia are an organization that reverences every G.o.d whose name is

cited in worldwide mythology.”

The vigor

of the rain outside seemed to increase, and a thunder could be heard in the

distance.

“The main

purpose of Utopia’s activities is to further the diffusion and wors.h.i.+pping of

worldwide mythology, and what we dedicate most of our strength to is the preservation

of ‘demiG.o.ds’. Miss Violet, do you know about demiG.o.ds?”

Violet

mutely shook her head.

For a

second, as if cutting the room in half, a flash of lightning filled it with

white brightness and soon disappeared. At the intensity of the noise, Lisbon

wound up putting herself on guard a little, but the Auto-Memories Doll in front

of her merely directed her eyes towards the window as if not seeing anything

out of ordinary. As seen from the side, her orbs twinkled. Lisbon coughed,

making her gaze return to where it was before.

“A demiG.o.d is

a child born between deity and a human. In our scriptures, there’s a famous

legend about a demiG.o.d. Love happened between a G.o.d and a person… look here.”

Lisbon opened a huge, old and familiar book that had been left on the table. It

seemed to be one with many religious paintings. Turning over countless pages,

she stopped at half of its length. “Let’s read the first section… ‘The

G.o.ddess of knowledge, Roses, descended from the Heavens to watch over the

development of people’s civilization, and slipped onto the Earth in the form of

a young human woman. She could not afford to let her ident.i.ty ever be

discovered. However, when Roses was changing from her human form to her G.o.ddess

one in order to go back to the skies, she was seen by a traveler. The man swore

not to reveal it to anyone, but asked to spend a night with Roses in return.

Roses accepted that wish and returned to the Heavens at dawn, yet not even a

year pa.s.sed before she reappeared in front of the man. It was because their

child, a demiG.o.d, had been born. Roses had a husband back in Heaven, and

fearing his jealousy, she entrusted the child to the man. The demiG.o.d left

behind inherited Roses’s rare intellectual power, but was murdered after

earning the envy of people who drowned in self-conceit and carried pomp to the

extreme. Earnestly, Roses simply awaited for her child to pa.s.s by the gates that

led to both Heaven and the Underworld…’” Lisbon’s pale finger showed the

ill.u.s.tration on that page. “These heterochromatic eyes. One side is red, the

other is golden… and long, lavender-grey hair, as if a single drop of purple

had been poured onto silver. This is the remarkable appearance of the G.o.ddess

of knowledge, Roses. She’s said to have taught words to humanity when it had just

been born.”

“Is that

the beginning of demiG.o.ds?”

“It’s not

just this. Worldwide mythology is true, and demiG.o.ds are real as well. The

greatest proof is the demiG.o.d of G.o.ddess Roses, Lady Lux, who lives in this

Utopia.”

By her own

experience, Lisbon was used to rebuff and sneers when saying such things, but

Violet did neither.

“Why

couldn’t Roses let humans know that she was a G.o.ddess?” she simply asked a

genuine question that had come to her.

Lisbon

smiled satisfactorily. “Good point. Since the past, G.o.ds and beings that

possessed the gift of preeminence were glorified by people and their existences

were feared, but at the same time, they were objects of reliability. Moreover,

the power of being glorified attracts envy. That was the case of Roses’s child.

Other than in this legend, she left behind several other children of men.”

After saying that, Lisbon turned the pages again. “However, the eventual

results of that were not positive… In reality, Roses was not supposed to let

go of her children. DemiG.o.ds are unique both in the Heavens and on Earth.

However, in the world of humans, the power they inherit from the G.o.ds stands

out. For their sake, it’s better for them to dwell in the Heavens. That is why,

when we find a demiG.o.d, we hide and protect them from society. Until it comes

the day of returning them to Heaven… This is off-topic, but Miss Violet, was

your name taken from the flower G.o.ddess Violet?”

“Yes, it

seems so.” Perhaps because she recalled memories of the parent who had named

her, Violet averted her eyes.

“Still, as

I thought… you really do keenly resemble the G.o.ddess of combat, Garnet

Spear.” With a gentle sc.r.a.ping sound, Lisbon pushed the scripture in front of

Violet and opened it.

Displayed there

was a G.o.ddess in white armor holding a sword. With her golden hair flowing

free, she was staring into the distance. Her eyes were blue and stunning. She

definitely was very similar to Violet.

“This ill.u.s.tration

is a religious portrait made by a famous painter, and it is said to be his best

masterpiece. Garnet Spear is loved by many sorts of artists, and her image was

given numerous forms. Here in Utopia, there’s a room decorated with artworks of

worldwide mythology G.o.ds; allow me to take you there tomorrow. I will tell you

the anecdote of Garnet Spear later as well. Miss Violet. There are other things

I want to tell and ask you about. That’s right, if you please, shall I give you

a cameo of Garnet Spear as a sign of our closure?” Standing up from her seat

once, Lisbon pulled something out of the room’s chest and soon came back. “I

believe it is suitable for you to have this. It’s a cameo brooch made of white

agate by one of the Utopia’s nuns. This is a selling item exported to the

continent to pay for the expenses of our activities.” Fitting in the palm of

her hand was an oval-shaped object with the figure of the G.o.ddess sculpted on a

white agate stone.

Grasping

the emerald brooch attached to her robe, Violet said, “I… already have this.”

“Even if you

don’t put it on, you can leave it at hand.”

“No. I do

not wish to have any brooches besides this one.”

Her

att.i.tude could be considered stubborn. Lisbon retained her smile, but inwardly

clicked her tongue.

——No need to hurry. First, show affection,

preach our teachings and let it sink in.

Lisbon’s

gaze had become not that of a nun who served the G.o.ds, but that of a hunter.

One day

pa.s.sed after that person appeared before my eyes during a thunderstorm. The

rain continued intensely pouring outside, so going outdoors seemed very

unlikely. After morning prayer had ended, as I was told that I was supposed to

eat at the indoor garden instead of my imprisonment room, I had to think a bit

about what to do. That was because I had exchanged conversations with other demiG.o.d

candidates up until then.

——Just the usual scheme.

The demeanor

of a demiG.o.d living in a utopia was something wanted from me.

“Lady Lux,

this is Miss Violet, who works for a postal company. Because of this bad

weather, she is relying on the Utopia.”

The one whom

I had observed amidst those lightning bolts was far more fine-looking as seen

in person at close range. Violet Evergarden. She had a quiet beauty that did

not disappoint.

There was

no fountain in the indoor garden, but the gra.s.s and flowers arranged in bowls were

put close together so as to stage a small forest, creating a pure atmosphere.

The place was often used for entertaining people who came from the outside

world to the Utopia. It was open and cozy, making the Utopia naturally more

comfortable.

“This is

the demiG.o.d whom we are currently protecting in this Utopia, Lady Lux Sibyl. We

found Lady Lux about seven years ago… When we heard rumors about her

appearance and went to where she was, we saw that she was the splitting image

of the G.o.ddess of knowledge, Roses, as you can tell. On top of that, Lady Lux

was an orphan and did not know her origins… she did not know her father, either.

Most likely, she fell to the Earth after being birthed by the G.o.ddess Roses for

some reason. It’s unfortunate…”

“She really…

has the same looks as the ill.u.s.tration.”

“You, too,

are similar to Garnet Spear.” I replied, and Violet just nodded

expressionlessly, seeming neither happy nor upset.

Both of us

resembled G.o.ds.

“This is

truly a wonderful thing, you two.”

The place was

mostly a collection of fake plants. We had breakfast together on the seats set

in the garden and had a harmless and inoffensive chitchat. I nonchalantly

talked about how life in the Utopia was superb. Violet seemed not to be

interested. Her att.i.tude implied that she was more concerned about the sounds

of the heavy rain outside.

I did not

know much about the work of Auto-Memories Dolls, so I was surprised to hear

that it consisted of women traveling alone around the world as amanuenses. They

had to care for the letters of their clients above anything. I came to

understand that as she always had her bag with her.

——Incredible. I can’t… do the same at all.

I could not

set a single foot out of the Utopia.

At first, I

did not intend to take the conversation too far, but upon second thought, it

had been a long time since I had last chatted with a woman close to my age, so

the pace of the talk wound up accidentally quickening on my end.

“Miss

Violet, what do you do on holidays?”

“I stay on

standby. I wait for the next job.”

“You surely

live in a big city, right? I admire those who are able to see various shops.

You go outside often, so do you like staying home better after all?”

“I do not

particularly like or dislike it. If I have a goal, I go outside.”

“Such as

hanging out with a friend?”

It was

strange. The more we talked, the more I wanted to know about her.

“I do not

have friends.”

“Is that

so?”

“Yes.”

Her manner

of speech was curt, but I contrastingly got a good feeling from it. Saying

things honestly was always better than hiding lies and keeping up a caring

façade.

“Hum, but I

also don’t have any, so it’s okay.”

“Is this

something that must be confirmed?”

“Eh?”

“You said

that it was ‘okay’…”

“R-Right.

It’s weird to say that it’s okay, isn’t it?”

Pondering

on whether I had spoiled the mood, I was feeling regretful, but Violet denied

that. “No. That is not it. I had been wondering if this was not actually the

case. To tell the truth, my superior was also worried about it…” Violet

nodded with a serious face, as if there was something she really had to think

about.

“Is that

so?”

“Yes, he

said something similar to your question, Lady Lux. It seems it is ‘normal’ to

have friends. I do not understand the concept of ‘normal’ very well… I am not

troubled by not having any, and I do not know how to make one.”

“Do you

have meals with people from your workplace or stuff like that?”

“Sometimes,

yes.”

“How about

starting from there? For instance, having a talk like this one…”

“Will we

become friends if we talk?”

“I wonder…”

“This is

very difficult.”

“It is…”

“Yes,

things that others… do naturally are very difficult for me.”

“I totally

understand.”

Violet

started slowly but surely asking me questions as well, about what I did during

the day, if I could see colors the same way with both of my eyes even with them

being heterochromatic, and what I did on holidays, just as I had asked her. I

answered those only in the way I could.

“Lady Lux,

do you not go outside?”

“No.”

“So you are

always here?”

“Yes, until

now, and from now on.”

“Is that

the mission bestowed upon you, Lady Lux?”

“It might

be better like this. After all, demiG.o.ds are not supposed to descend to human

lands.”

“I was…

told a little about the mythology. It is because you might become involved with

unfortunate happenings.”

“Yes.”

“Lady Lux,

were you unfortunate when you were outside?”

“I was poor

and alone… it’s true that I needed protection.”

“This is

not a land of humans but there are many humans here. Even so, is there anything

preventing the effects of misfortune?”

The

breathing of the people in the place – myself and the nuns serving us – halted

seamlessly. Her way of inquiring did not seem to be that of someone who was

digging for some sort of information.

“I…

wonder.”

“You do not

know?” A simple question. An innocent line of thought.

“No,

that… that… Miss Violet. Why… do you… ask?”

Sometimes,

things like that were the beginning of a turmoil that would cast discord over

peaceful moments.

“No, I

apologize if it is something challenging to answer. I was merely thinking that

you did not have to force yourself to stay here if you were ill-fated here as

well.”

It was a

situation that I, who only spent my days thinking about when scary times would be

over, just as I was waiting for that storm to end, could not cope with.

“Am… I…

forcing… myself?” while speaking, I could not help but be curious about the

stare of the nun by my side. I could feel a pressure from her gaze that threateningly

seemed to order me to “not say anything unnecessary”.

“I was told

you could not leave here for the rest of your life. But you talked about your

admiration for cities…”

“That’s

right… I indeed said that. However… in any case, it’s impossible.”

“What is?”

“I cannot

leave this place.”

“Why?”

“It’s not allowed.

Since I’m a demiG.o.d…”

“Not

allowed by whom?”

“Eh?”

“Who does

not allow it?”

“That’s…”

——Aah, no good.

“Lady Lux

is a wors.h.i.+pped demiG.o.d. Is there anyone above you here?”

——Don’t expose it.

“The fact

that I can’t go out even though I want to is… because…”

——Don’t say any more than that.

“Because…”

The sound

of palms clapping ensued. I looked at the nun in fear. Having forcefully

stopped our conversation, she had a cheerful smile on.

“Lady Lux,

Miss Violet, it has become cold here. Shall we move to somewhere else?”

As the talk

was interrupted, Violet’s lips suggested she had something to say, but she

silently complied. It was because I was begging with my eyes. She was gradually

realizing that place’s ambiguity.

——Hurry and escape. Once the nun turned around, I said so without

voicing it. I wondered if she understood. I hoped so. If it was now, she could

still make it.

Yes, I was

confined in that place.

I proposed

to the nun, “Sister, can’t we show her the premises…? Like, the room with the

images of the G.o.ds, and other things. She must be bored only waiting for the

weather to clear up.”

“That… is

not open to the public.”

“Still, I

want to show it to her. I want to see it as well. See, since I don’t have much

time…”

The nun’s

mouth seemed to be about to muster rejection, yet she wound up giving

permission, “That’s right. You will only stay on Earth for a little while

longer. Surely, there are other nuns who wish to see Lady Lux. Miss Violet was

summoned to see Lisbon after we are done, so she will have to take her leave

halfway, but until then…”

I knew that

nun had a soft side to her. She had always taken care of me ever since I had

been brought there. She probably had a bit of affection towards me. I was

grateful for that, but at the same time, extremely afraid of it.

“When I

think about how the time we have to talk like this is coming to an end, I feel

very lonely.”

Afraid of

how much all the people there valued me.

“Well,

then, shall I show you around without further ado?”

Led by the

nun, the four of us went around the Utopia. Its management mostly consisted of support

from an investor whom we called the ‘owner’. I never met them, but they were clearly

filthy rich.

All kinds

of religious paintings and busts of G.o.ds adorned the corridors. We had an

indoor church where luxuriously colorful stained gla.s.s shone overhead, a

library crammed with old and new books, and a large public bath made of marble.

The amount

of working nuns was not only a dozen. Just everyone being able to eat every day

already cost money. Given the maintenance cost of the building, our budget likely

escalated.

“Here is

the last stop. We invited an artisan to make these. It’s the room of the G.o.ds’

sculptures.”

A serene

world awaited beyond the heavy door that was opened. I had only visited it in a

few occasions, but no matter how many times I looked at it, I had a feeling of heaviness.

A variety of statues were placed disorderly in the room, and water murmurings could

be heard as a number of small waterways ran through the ground. Glittering

gla.s.s beads spread beautifully inside them. From the ceiling, plants called ‘dark

vines’, which were said to grow well even where the sunlight did not hit,

extended their branches around the walls and the ground, creating a fantastic

atmosphere.

“My, so the

preparations have been completed? Lady Lux, I will excuse myself for a little

bit.” The nun beckoned another member of the Utopia’s personnel from the

entrance in-between the statues of the G.o.ds and left our side.

——Now’s the time. I thought as I grasped Violet’s arm and pulled

it.

“Lady Lux,

hum… what were you trying to say earlier?”

“This way.

I will show you Garnet Spear’s sculpture.” While saying so, I had a different

objective. As we walked towards the statue of Garnet Spear fighting against a

giant snake, I asked, “Miss Violet, have the Utopia’s Sisters asked you

anything?”

Her line of

sight s.h.i.+fted from me to the statue as she answered, “Yes, I was questioned

about my origins… and upbringing. I have been told to not talk much about

myself, so I did not say anything other than that I was an orphan… and an

ex-soldier.”

I frowned.

What a situation. That gorgeous girl who resembled Garnet Spear did not have

parents. She was the exact kind of ‘demiG.o.d’ that the Utopia sought.

“Miss

Violet. Listen well. The Sisters say this Utopia’s goal is to protect and

venerate demiG.o.ds, but that is wrong. It’s true… that I was saved from being

raised in an orphanage and from poverty after being taken in by them… but at

the same time, my life is being targeted.”

Perhaps

because my tone was hard to hear, Violet finally peeled her eyes off the

sculpture. “What do you mean? Please tell me about this in detail.”

That was

when I heard the nun calling for us. Hiding in-between the statues, I resumed

the discussion, “The Utopia’s objective is the safeguarding of demiG.o.ds. But

the main goal is returning them to the Heavens, where the G.o.ds reside. Most

demiG.o.d legends end with them being destroyed in the land of men because of

their powers. The Utopia resents this and attempts to guide them to the

Heavens… but the method for that is murder. This is a facility of a homicidal

group in which people tainted with a twisted form of thinking gather.”

Violet

blinked piercingly. “In summary, Lady Lux is fated to be killed?”

“It’s been

decided that I will be returned to Heaven on the morning of the next day of

full moon, three days from now. It will be my birthday. The demiG.o.ds kept here

are raised waiting for the day they become fourteen years old. In general, it

is said in the continent that fourteen-year-olds are adults, so the Utopia’s

ideal is that our childhood should be lived in the human world, and our adulthood

in the Heavens. However, if a demiG.o.d who is older than fourteen is taken in,

they are killed within no more than ten days. Up until now, I have seen several

adult demiG.o.d candidates, who either were brought here, lost or visiting, be

slaughtered by them. You are in danger too. The Utopia is targeting you as a

demiG.o.d as well.”

“Me…?”

“I told you

that the Utopia was a group of people with twisted thinking, didn’t I? To tell

the truth, we don’t need to have some sort of amazing power; just having the

looks is enough. I myself am not that smart. I don’t know why I was born with

an appearance like this, but I’ve heard that there is an ethnic group with the

same hair and eyes in a country far from here. I’m sure that’s my ancestry.

Also, one more thing that is essential to decide if someone is a demiG.o.d is if

they either are orphans or don’t have one parent. It’s because that makes it

easy to pretend they’re from the demiG.o.d legends. On top of that, Miss Violet,

not only do you resemble Garnet Spear, but you are also a former soldier. From

the Utopia’s viewpoint, this is like saying ‘please kill me’.” I went on hastily,

as though to stir up the sense of dread.

Still,

perhaps not having any fear at all towards the Utopia’s truth, Violet

dispa.s.sionately interjected, “Is that so?”

“Miss

Violet, don’t ‘is that so’ me and just run away. You said Sister Lisbon had

called you, right? You must not go. They will most certainly give you some medicine

to restrain your body.”

“How would

they kill me?” she carefreely asked about the method of her own murder.

“You’d be

put on a small boat that would sail along the course of Chevalier’s biggest

waterfall and drop down from it. Right now, there are plenty of openings for

you to escape. Please run away.” As if appealing, I shook her arms. A

mechanical creak resounded from them.

She was a

person with automated parts and as charming as a doll. I really could think of

someone like her as a demiG.o.d. For an instant, I was almost similar to the

people of Utopia for having that sort of reasoning, and became afraid of

myself.

As I slowly

let go of Violet’s arms, she firmly held my hands. “Thank you for your

kindness. I will do as you warned and leave this place as soon as possible.

Lady Lux, allow me to a.s.sist you with your own escape as well.”

Did she

really understand what sort of circ.u.mstances she was currently in? I could not

read her as she was expressionless, but at any rate, she seemed willing to

flee. As I was relieved, I could not a.s.sent with my head to the help she had

offered me.

“Lady Lux?”

I stopped

moving halfway to a smile. I was unable to properly muster my voice out of my

throat. My blood pressure rapidly lowered and the muscles of my back went cold.

That was a creeping sensation of alarm one would feel when committing an

enormous failure. It began to take over my body. What was I so scared of? Being

saved by someone was a dream I had had for many years.

——What’s wrong with me?

Even so, I

was unable to grab onto the hand stretched towards me.

——I have to say it. I have to say, “please do

that”.

If I stayed

there, I would die a painful underwater death within three days. That was a

definite truth. The nuns that treated me so gently now, too, would forget about

me once I was gone and find a new demiG.o.d to wors.h.i.+p. After all, theirs was a

false affection. In reality, I was not loved by anyone. I was not cherished by

anyone. There was nothing good in that place. I could not trust anybody.

Everything was scary. Still…

“Lady Lux,

do you not wish to leave here?”

——I… I… just realized that I’m scared of

venturing into the outside world.

“That…

that’s not it…”

No, I had

actually realized it a long time before.

“Do you not

wish to run away?”

I knew. I

knew.

“Are

people… supposed to fear death?”

That was it.

I did not want to die. But…

“I don’t

want to… die.”

…but to

me, living was as frightening as dying. Yes, frightening.

Ever since

I had been brought there from the orphanage when I was seven years old, I was

always a caged bird. I received education, but I only knew what was in the

scriptures. I also could not craft like the nuns. If I went into the outside

world just like that, how was I supposed to live? Other girls my age surely knew

all kinds of things, and had family, friends and a place to belong. Yet I had

nothing. I was no more than a cowardly child continuously immersed in despair

within the darkness I was confined, who had been watching other people die without

being able to intervene. No, I could not even be considered a child anymore. I

was nothing. Once someone as useless as me stepped outside, what should I do?

Was it not clear that I would die a dog’s death? If that was the case, then the

invitation of demise given to me by that forced fate…

——…would be much better. As I thought so, my voice did not

come out.

“Lady Lux!”

Upon being called stridently, my body shook in surprise.

The nun was

observing us from the side of Garnet Spear’s statue. It might be that she had

heard our exchange. No, she definitely had. Actual rage and scorn were now

seeping out of her usually placid face.

I swiftly

pushed the nun away. “Run!”

As I shouted,

Violet reached her arm out to me again. “Lady Lux, your hand.”

Her figure

was just like that of a knight. I had always, always imagined such a scene. A handsome,

n.o.ble prince – someone that magnificent would come to save me from the Utopia

of hopelessness.

Nevertheless,

while suppressing the nun, I shook my head. “Please go! I… I cannot live in

the outside world! Please! Hurry and go!”

Violet

attempted to hold onto me and take me by force, but I shook her off.

——I really… can’t.

I chose

death in the last minute.

——I’m scared. Living is… scarier.

I was

stupid. It was a stupid choice. However, being alive was especially arduous for

me.

——I have always been shallowly breathing right

beside death.

That

environment had already allowed me to cogitate dying, and I had grown used to it.

All I could think about was that I could hardly wait for the day to come.

——Living is… scarier.

It was much

harsher to live in the world of humans, being used, lied to, and acc.u.mulating

sad memories.

“I will die

here! That’s what I want to do! I can’t live… in the outside world at this

point! I’ll die like this… in this place… so go!”

It could be

that I had become insane. While I had said that the people of Utopia were

crazy, it might be that the craziest and most broken one was myself.

After standing

on the spot for a few seconds, Violet turned her back to me. And then,

suddenly, she destroyed the stained gla.s.s window between the statues with one

arm. She certainly planned to escape from there. Rain and wind, along with a

large amount of leaves and flowers that had been ripped off the trees burst in.

“Don’t run

away! You’re a demiG.o.d! Under our control…!” the nun yelled.

Now I was

the one being pushed. But even so, I did not lose to her. I grabbed her foot

with one hand and clung to it. “Run!” I desperately endured being kicked.

Violet

stood by the window frame, strongly holding her bag to her side. The height

from there to the ground was one that could ensure an escape if one did not

fail in landing.

——Now, go!

I thought

she would surely not turn back. However, her neck snapped towards my direction,

and she offered her hand once more. “Lady Lux.” It was as if her eyes said

“come, let’s escape this place together”.

If I took

that hand, maybe I could have a future.

——Aah, this storm, her, death, everything.

I was sorry

for the person with those strong eyes that made me think of these things.

——They’re all mixing up in my head and are too

noisy; I don’t want them.

Since I was

tired of even so much as thinking.

“Go.” I

whispered that single word.

“If you

ever need help, call my name.” Saying nothing but that, she jumped out of the

window.

The nun let

out a sharp scream. After being cussed by her as she got up, I was. .h.i.t on the

cheek and fell on the spot. Looking at her distorted face, I scoffed.

——See, the world really is terrifying.

That was

why dying was easier.

The morning

after the downpour had stopped was beautiful. Trees and gra.s.s covered in dew

left a characteristic after-rain odor. The Sun enclosed the world with a light unlike

that of the sunset. That very morning Sun caused the continuous drizzle to

sparkle. The birthday and funeral of a girl, who was wors.h.i.+ped by a certain religious

organization of a certain isolated island, was greeted with such a fine day.

“Lady Lux,

please go soundly.”

With a gun

pointed at her, Lux had her wrists tied and was put on a small boat filled with

flowers. The “soundly” that Lisbon had said was not directed at the one who was

about to die. Lux’s face had clear evidence that she had received beating. Her

mouth was swollen purple, the corner of her eye injured. Perhaps because she

had not been granted any rest, her head staggered and her vision was out of

focus.

As Lux

remained silent even with such an exhausted face, Lisbon laughed. “Lady Lux,

you were the most easily manageable and submissive demiG.o.d I’ve ever seen. We

have not forgiven you for helping that Auto-Memories Doll escape, but… we

will stop blaming you, as you are about to go on a journey to the Heavens. Any

last words?”

Lux looked

up at Lisbon blankly. That world had such a stunning scenery, so how come the

people living in it were so ugly? As if sensing Lux’s feelings, a distorted

smile appeared on Lisbon’s lips.

“How long

will you continue doing this?”

“Always.

For… ever.”

“What’s the

meaning of it?”

“You are

asking that now?” Lisbon snorted as if making fun of her. “We wish to protect

this world, which the G.o.ds have created. You’ve listened to the legends of

demiG.o.ds several times, right? They are disparate both in Heavens and on Earth.

You are disparate. An existence like that is… strange. It’s strange, right?”

Even while

being questioned, Lux could not respond to being labeled with the word

“strange”.

“Your

existence itself is strange. What’s with those eyes and hair? They’re not

‘normal’. If disparate ones are not disposed of, they might cause trouble.”

“I

haven’t… done… anything.”

“Even if

you haven’t done anything yet, you eventually might. Your existence is a

bother. To put it simply, we are… afraid of those like you. That is why we

wors.h.i.+p, respect and kill you.”

They could

not stand those who were not like them, who were not similar to them.

Lux finally

understood the reason why the people of that organization a.s.sembled. Self-love

that had gone too far. Not identifying with another person made them uneasy.

Therefore, they would kill them. It was a perverse belief, but for them, that

was overlooked as ‘normal’.

——And the craziest one here is me, for thinking

that being killed by these people was best.

The gun was

aimed at the circlet on Lux’s head.

“You were

actually supposed to die by drowning, but the Sister who used to take care of

you begged for mercy. We shall let you die with a gunshot. Because dying

suffocated… is terrible. Then, farewell, Lady Lux. We deliver this to you in

your last moments: the chorus number 320.” Lisbon gave a signal behind her

back.

As she did

so, the other nuns, who were lined up and had been watching the two of them,

begun to sing a requiem. Even though they were attempting a collective murder,

their singing voices were beautiful.

“Our G.o.ds

in Heaven…”

She would

be killed once the song was over.

In order to

dilute her fear of death, Lux muttered the words that she had been made to

memorize over and over from the scriptures, “I am your child, I am you flesh

and blood, I am your tears…”

The sound

of the water echoing from under the boat was the sound of the tomb that she

would soon flow into.

“Have pity,

have pity, have pity on me.” The roots of her teeth trembled unevenly. “Pity

me, G.o.d.” Hers was a crying voice. Lux steadily shed tears at the fear of her

unstoppable journey towards death.

Although

she had chosen death, the fact that it was frightening to welcome it did not

change. Although living was scarier, the agony awaiting her was unbearable.

“G.o.d…

G.o.d… Lady Roses…”

Lux’s body

would probably be carried by the river and drop from the great waterfall. Her

corpse would float along with the flowers, fall into the basin and be swallowed

by it. Her whole being would be invaded by water and sink. Just by imagining

it, she felt like fainting. Rather, it would be wonderful if she could faint

now.

“G.o.d…

Lady Roses… Lady Roses…” Lux repeatedly called for the name of the G.o.ddess

that was said to be her mother. “Lady Roses… Lady Roses…” Many times,

instead of reciting spells to eliminate her fear. “Lady Roses… Lady Roses… Lady

Roses…”

——Mom, you gave birth to and abandoned me only

to act like you have anything to do with it afterwards?

“Lady

Roses…”

——What even was my life?

“Lady… Roses… ugh… uh, ah, ugh…”

——When I was little, even though I was poor,

even though I was an orphan, I wouldn’t have chosen death by my own will. Why

did things turn out like this?

“Lady…

Roses… uuh…” She called for her even while hiccupping. “Uuh… uh…

Rose…” That was how she was spending her last moments. “Uah—aaah… uuugh…”

With her mouth still open. “Vi…” With the will of someone who still earned

for air. “Vi… o…” She called for her G.o.d of salvation, who set apart her

fears. “Vi… o… let…!” Lux shouted naturally.

“If you ever need help, call my name.”

The name of

the only person who had ever truly attempted to save her in her life.

“Violet!

Violet, Violet! Help me! I don’t want to die!”

Was that

wish a trigger for something? A scream rose during the requiem. Lisbon suddenly

fell down. Lux’s eyes could see someone strike Lisbon from behind. As she was

hit on the head, Lisbon wound up letting go of the cords that kept the small

boat in place, and so it begun to be carried by the current. Yet the cords were

immediately held back and the boat stopped.

“Eh?”

The nun who

had committed such misconduct stood flat-faced.

“Eh, eh?”

Holding onto

the cords of the boat, the nun stretched her arms towards Lux to forcibly pull

her back to land. She pushed Lux behind her back protectively, and the small

boat was carried by the stream as if it were n.o.body’s business.

Everyone was

stunned. Their mouths were agape to a ludicrous extent.

“I have

been…”

For the one

who had destroyed the ritual to appear from that place’s interior was something

unconceivable. It was impossible.

“…waiting

for you…”

Yet she who

had done so…

“…to call

my name, Lady Lux.”

…exposed

her face as she took off her white wimple.

“Vi…

olet!”

It was the

only person who had risked herself to truly help Lux in her life. She was an

odd Auto-Memories Doll.

Before

anyone realized it, Violet was holding the gun that had been in Lisbon’s hands.

With no mercy, she shot at the nuns’ feet. Earth flew up as if exploding.

“Open the

path. If anyone intends to interfere, I warn that you will not come out of this

with only a bruise.”

Without

moving from the spot, the nuns looked at each other.

“Fight

back, my fellows who serve the G.o.ds!” Lying on the ground and enduring the

pain, Lisbon yelled.

The nuns

gathered together and responded to her brave call. They all took knives and

pistols from within their robes and headed towards the two.

“Forgive

me, but I will have to treat you a little roughly.” Violet took Lux into her

arms. With the possible difficulty of handling her, Violet put Lux under her

arm and broke into run.

The nuns

came in their direction as though to clash with them. With the impulse she

earned from the run, Violet leaped and kicked several of them as if toppling

domino pieces.

Being

treated as luggage, Lux let out an offbeat scream. Violet thrust her to the end

of the path she had opened, turning again towards the enemies. With a broad

swing, she threw the gun that had run out of ammo at an opponent who held Lux

at gunpoint, hitting her on the face and causing her to pa.s.s out. She then

dashed upwards by kicking the stomach of someone who rushed towards her with a

knife, performing a somersault. Stealing two guns from a fallen foe, and while

shooting with both, she took control of the surroundings. In spite of the

overwhelming disadvantage of one person versus many, Violet had the upper hand

in that unfolding battlefield.

Shuddering,

Lux shrank back. Violet, who noticed an enemy attempting to attack Lux again, immediately

jumped. Coiling her body around the nun like a snake, she tangled her legs

around the other’s neck and applied weight to them, turning her over. She then downed

her fist onto the nun’s face.

——She’s… overwhelming.

Lux’s eyes

were glued to the way she fought.

Violet

declared uncharacteristically loudly to the fallen nuns staring at her, “My

arms are prosthetics of Estark Inc. They can easily crush your bodies. Those

who are ready for it, please do step forth.” Her courageous figure as she

opened one hand before her chest, then balled a fist with her palm letting out

a screech, was the one of a beautiful fighter.

The nuns

ogled her frame as if seeing the G.o.ddess of combat, Garnet Spear, whom they had

revered no small amount of times.

As she was

able to get up somehow despite her bleeding head, Lisbon shouted, “What are you

doing? Seize her! You can return her to the Heavens right here… I will allow

it. We cannot let such a monster loose on this land.”

“Are

demiG.o.ds monsters?”

She

promptly answered Violet’s question, “That’s right. Monsters like you… aren’t

supposed to be on Earth. Halves who are neither people nor G.o.ds… your powers

will surely bring us tragedy! You… you are a great example! Where did you…

learn to fight like this?! Just how many people have you killed…? The likes

of you were not supposed to be born. You heretics!” Lisbon’s eyes were

bloodshot, and saliva bubbled from her lips, which used to form a gentle smile.

There were

nuns with shocked expressions at her utterances, but the ones who agreed with

and nodded at her strongly gripped their weapons again.

Violet

simply retorted Lisbon’s curses, “I see. I might really be a demiG.o.d, by the

looks of it. If that is the case, I can confirm many of these things.” With her

tone that had a sweet ring to it becoming icy, she continued, “Indeed, there

might be no helping it if an imitation of human being such as myself were

killed with the pretense of being returned to Heaven. But Lady Lux is

different. She is… merely a girl who went through frightening experiences.”

There was no hesitation in her actions or words. “You might be satisfied if I

said ‘please take me’. However, I am now a domesticated monster. I cannot

afford to be killed so easily. I am forbidden to fight unnecessary battles, but…

my Lord once told me” she removed her black gloves, displaying her artificial

arms, “to ‘live’.” Violet instantly rushed towards Lisbon, this time throwing a

punch at her stomach.

Lisbon flew

a long distance. Her body fell into the river and the other nuns went for her

aid in an extreme hurry, as it seemed she would be carried away by the current.

Just a

swing from one of her fists was enough to send someone soaring through the air

like a doll. Upon witnessing that fact, those who had taken back their weapons

let go of them at once.

“Challengers,

come forward. I, Violet Evergarden, shall take you on.” The beautiful woman

standing calmly amidst of so much violence was lurid and bewitching.

In the end,

no one attempted to go against her after that, and so, Lux and Violet walked

their way out of the place.

“That was

scary… that was scary…”

“You were

scared? But now, you are safe.”

Somewhere

away from the river, as Lux’s restraints were removed, she burst into tears.

The horror she had gone through just a little while before suddenly reoccurred

to her.

Halfway

crossing the woods that went in the direction of the island’s harbor on

Violet’s lead, they stopped to take Violet’s precious bag, which had been very

carefully suspended on a tree branch. Did she have confidence that they would

be able to come so far, Lux asked herself while crying.

“Hadn’t you

run away?”

“In the

end, the rain did not stop, so I was camping in a cave I had found. I was…

thinking all the while in there… about what Lady Lux had said.”

“Me…?”

“That

you… could not live in the outside world.”

She had

indeed said so.

“I will die here! That’s what I want to do! I

can’t live… in the outside world at this point! I’ll die like this… in this

place… so go!”

It had been

one truth from the peak of her limits.

“Although I

am a little different, I, too… had always been living in only one world. I

was used by a certain person and did not know any other way of life besides it.

That world had its circ.u.mstances, and we were set apart… so I became

separated from my Lord. Even though a kind person attempted to teach me a new

lifestyle, at first, I resisted it. If I ceased to be myself… no, if I ceased

to be an ‘a.s.set’, I thought that the person who had needed me until then would

no longer want me.”

The two

girls walked. The path ahead was testing. It was coated in mud, damp with gra.s.s

condensation, and all they could count on were their own feet. However, they

went on without ever turning back.

“I believed

that Lady Lux was the same as me. That if you chose a new path, you would be troubled

as to what you should do at that point, in that different trajectory…? Perhaps

you were thinking, ‘Am I wanted in that place? If I am not, it is not worth

anything’. Or ‘If I am not wanted there, I must be an unnecessary existence’.

That is… extremely…” She was probably at loss on what term to use. Her

p.r.o.nunciation was that of someone who was borrowing the words of another, “It

is extremely… ‘scary’.”

It was

incredibly strange for that young woman to be scared of something, Lux thought.

——I mean, she’s so strong and pretty. She

seems… invincible.

Yet she was

the same as Lux herself. She was slightly afraid of living.

“But, Miss

Violet, you did not stop, right?”

She was

afraid, but had chosen to live.

“Yes, I was

ordered to live, and… I felt I had many things to reflect on. There was truly

so much I did not know. The many words that person had taught me… and said to

me, such as ‘I lo’…” she trailed off. Violet grabbed the emerald brooch on

her chest to ease her hammering heartbeats. “I started to think… that I…

wanted to learn about and understand the words I had been told, of a feeling

that is foreign to me. So, Lady Lux, your way of thinking might change. You

can… die anytime. When the time you wish to do so comes, no one can stop you.

That is why, I was wondering if it was not all right… for you to know a

little more about the outside world until then… and so I meddled. I

apologize. I will take the responsibility. We can still cross over in this

condition. Lady Lux, if you do not have a destination, please just come with

me. I will not do anything harmful.” Violet stretched her hand out to Lux, who

walked a few steps behind her.

This time,

Lux did not hesitate. The mechanical arm was cold and hard, but for some

reason, it felt warm to her.

Violet’s robes

were covered in dirt and her hair was disheveled. There was nothing in her that

made her seem like she was wearing a knight in s.h.i.+ny armor, but to Lux, her

figure overlapped with Garnet Spear’s.

“I am

forever indebted to you for rus.h.i.+ng to my aid.”

As Lux

spoke with a runny nose, Violet asked back, “What are you saying? Lady Lux,

were you not the one who saved me first? I am grateful to you for having

courage and warning me.”

As Lux was

both shocked and happy to have someone’s grat.i.tude despite being how she was,

she cried once again.

——I guess will… live a little more after all.

She

immediately fixed her way of thinking right then.

What

happened afterwards was that I was taken by Violet to her workplace, the CH

Postal Service, and started living there. At first, I was only in charge of

phone calls, but within a year, I simultaneously became the president’s

personal secretary, leading a restless everyday life.

President

Hodgins was someone I could respect, for he kindly – and sometimes strictly –

took care of a girl like me, of unknown background and who had come from an

obscure religious organization. However, I came to understand that he was a

person with a quirk or two.

The only

things that changed in me ever since I arrived there were that I got a haircut

and replaced my circlet for a berretta. And I became a little closer to Violet,

to the point we became able to talk to each other without honorifics.

She

continued on rus.h.i.+ng about as a stardom of Auto-Memories Dolls. Her appearance

did not change much. Maybe all that was different was the frilly umbrella added

to her standard outfit?

Being able

to meet with the much-requested Violet was quite difficult, but she returned

regularly to the office, and during those times, I would invite her for tea. Seated

at the terrace of a nearby café facing the city’s main street, we would report

our recent situations to one another while observing the traffic. My stories

were mostly about our unprecedented boss, but Violet would talk about the

various countries she had dragged her feet around and the people she had met in

them. The feelings of a writer who lived surrounded by beautiful mountains

towards his beloved daughter. The letters to the future from a mother who lived

in an old-fas.h.i.+oned household on a slightly elevated hill. The sad last moments

of a youth who was returned to his hometown in the countryside. The pa.s.sionate determination

of a young astronomer whom she had met in a city of starry skies.

Swinging

from joy to sorrow at her narrations, I would sometimes cry, sometimes laugh. We

surely looked like just two female friends when chatting so peacefully. No one

should be able to tell that we were the former live sacrifice of a religious organization

and an ex-soldier.

It was not

as if I had forgotten my past, but I had no intention of continuing to engage

in it. After all, the me who was a demiG.o.d of Roses had died back then, and the

current me was an employee of a postal company.

Those who

die do not come back. Physical bodies, time and values can never be retrieved.

My feelings of embracing the thirst for death remained firmly rooted within me,

but they had fallen to the bottom of a deep, deep sleep. “Don’t wake up yet”, I

would tell them every morning.

There were

days when I would think that living really was hard, but during those times, I

would close my eyes and strongly reminisce to that instant in which my minimum

and maximum intermingled. That I was going to perish in a small boat meant as a

coffin, decorated with flowers. That I had cried in it about how I did not want

to die. That someone had saved me. That her artificial arm had reached out to

me.

Violet

Evergarden, the friend that I was proud of having.